Connecting via SSH

SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol for securely connecting to a remote server over a network. It provides access to a text-mode terminal on a remote machine, allowing you to run commands, transfer files via SCP, and create encrypted tunnels.

Prerequisites

Before connecting, make sure the server is running an SSH server and that your user account has the necessary permissions. By default, SSH uses port 22. If the server is configured to use a different port, you will need to specify it when connecting.

Connecting via SSH on Windows

Using the built-in SSH client

Windows 10 and later include a built-in OpenSSH client available in Command Prompt and PowerShell. No additional software is required.

To connect to a server on the default port:

ssh username@hostname_or_ip

To connect to a server on a non-standard port:

ssh -p 2222 username@hostname_or_ip

To connect using a private key:

ssh -i C:\Users\your_user\.ssh\id_rsa username@hostname_or_ip

Enter your password when prompted to complete the connection.

Using PuTTY

PuTTY is a popular SSH client for Windows with a graphical interface. Download it from the official website.

1. Launch PuTTY.

2. In the "Host Name (or IP address)" field, enter the server's hostname or IP address.

3. Set the port number in the "Port" field. The default is 22.

4. Click "Open".

5. In the terminal window that opens, enter your username and password.

To authenticate with a private key, go to Connection > SSH > Auth in the PuTTY Configuration window and specify the path to your key file. For more details, refer to PuTTY's documentation.

For more information about changing the SSH port, see the corresponding [article].

Connecting via SSH on macOS

Using the built-in Terminal

macOS includes a built-in SSH client available in Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal). No additional software is required.

To connect to a server on the default port:

ssh username@hostname_or_ip

To connect to a server on a non-standard port:

ssh -p 2222 username@hostname_or_ip

To connect using a private key:

ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa username@hostname_or_ip

Enter your password when prompted to complete the connection.

Using Termius

Termius is a graphical SSH client for macOS with a modern interface. It supports saved hosts, key-based authentication, and multi-session management. Download it from the official website or the Mac App Store.

Connecting via SSH on Linux

The SSH client is included in all major Linux distributions and is available directly from the terminal.

To connect to a server on the default port:

ssh username@hostname_or_ip

To connect to a server on a non-standard port:

ssh -p 2222 username@hostname_or_ip

To connect using a private key:

ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa username@hostname_or_ip

Enter your password when prompted to complete the connection.

Conclusion

Once connected, you can run commands on the remote server as if you were working on it directly. To disconnect, type exit or press Ctrl+D.